Emma Simmons: Visual Arts: A History at Fort York
Visual Arts: A History at Fort York
Target Audience: 10 - 12 year old students
Location: Classroom or Online Lesson
Duration: 30 mins - 45 mins.
Summary: Visual arts and its purpose in the past as compared to the meaning it holds to us in the present is the focus of this lesson. In the absence of a reliable way to document history, drawings and paintings are the vital way in which we can peer into our past. Within Fort York there are many portraits and sketches of not only important figures like military leaders but also documentation of places, buildings, maps and landscapes. This lesson will use specific examples of works of art that are on display at Fort York while building on the main theme of the importance of visual arts at the time and currently.
Introducing Fort York National Historic Site:
Fort York National Historic site today is a preserved fort site that was vital during significant historical events that shaped our nation today. It was in active use during the War of 1812 and the famous Battle of York. There are countless artifacts and buildings that allow us to understand more about this period in history including paintings, portraits, sketchings and drawings. Through these works we can glimpse the past and understand more about the life that people lived and experienced at the time.
York Barracks, Lake Ontario, May 13, 1804.
This drawing depicts the York Barracks before they were completely burned down just a few years later in July of 1813. Though it may seem to us in modern times that art is something often done as a relaxing activity to express one's own emotions or perspectives on the world, it has served us greatly when we try to navigate history before photo documentation was accessible. Without drawings like this one we would have fewer true ways of knowing what the land, buildings, and people resembled at the time.
When we compare historical works of art with the modern world of art we know today, I want you to think about the meaning we put behind art now. With accessibility to cameras and a myriad of ways to document life the meaning we put behind works of art has evolved. It transforms from solely a means of documentation and commemoration to have abstract, creative and symbolic themes.
Questions to engage the group:
- What role does art play in our understanding of the past in modern society?
- Do certain artistic choices in this work influence how you think about the past? The colour palette, the style, the setting in the painting?
- What are some things that can only be captured through visual documentation that can't be done with words?
Portrait of Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, 1791
Questions to ask before discussion:
Why do you think we found time to make detailed portraits during times of war and struggle?
Do you think this was an important thing to be spending time and effort on during this period in history?
What would our history classes look like without portraits of prominent historical figures like John Graves Simcoe?
Portraiture has long been a staple in the art world but we must note that portraits were not made of just anyone. You couldn’t snap a photo of yourself as easily as you can today. It was an important and often long process done to represent very important and/or very wealthy people who could afford such a thing. In war times we continued to document the world around us for a myriad of reasons. Documenting prominent historical figures was important not only to preserve the legacy of significant people that shaped history but also, in this case, to commemorate their service in things like the military.
John Graves Simcoe played an important role in the war where he became lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. One of his most notable achievements was passing the Act Against Slavery in July of 1793. His prominent role in society earned him countless portraits over his lifetime. Through these works his legacy is honoured, preserved and commemorated.
Print, 1840
“ The greatest internal threat requiring military intervention during the British Army’s time at Fort York was the Rebellion of 1837. Violence afflicted both Upper and Lower Canada. This image shows soldiers dispersing rebels at St Charles in the lower province in 1837. (print, 1840, National Archives of Canada, C393.)”
Sketches created during battle were uncommon but accurate re-creations in the form of a painting or sketch made soon after from a safe place can help us understand the conditions of this time. This is another way in which documentation through art can keep our histories alive over time. Survived in this work is the setting, the attire, the battle formations, and even the architecture of the area at the time. Insights in all aspects of the work are important to look at when studying this work. Documentation through art is unique in this way because each piece of information included has to be carefully thought out and chosen by the artist. Each building, musket, and soldier was chosen to be depicted in a specific way which guarantees the most relevant and important information is what is being depicted here.
Concluding Statement:
Throughout this lesson we saw examples of wartime documentation in the form of drawings and paintings that tell the story of Fort York and things that happened at this time. Without artistic documentation these moments, people, events, and places would have been lost to history. Through preservation of important artifacts and documents we continue to learn and teach our histories over generations and learn from the actions of our past.